ICE in Maine – Creating Deterrence

Since President Trump’s inauguration, much has changed – including the attitude of those in the US illegally, or intending to come illegally. Maine, a border state, is an example of what happens when deterrence kicks in, and illegality is finally treated as illegal.

First, understand that legal and illegal immigration are fundamentally different. A foreign citizen can legally be in the US, temporarily or permanently, by following the law. Maine encourages legal – that is, lawful – migration. ICE has begun to aggressively pursue those illegally in Maine.

Second, if laws mean anything, this distinction is necessary, or borrowing from Lincoln, “fitting and proper.” Without consistent, predictable enforcement of immigration laws, the law means nothing.

To be clear, if a foreign citizen wishes to legally be in the US and remain here legally, understanding the commission of a crime triggers removal, they have MANY options. We are a generous nation.

A foreign citizen can legally enter the US on a work visa. Coming to work legally – not to sell drugs, traffic in people, commit crimes, or recruit into gangs – options include the EB-1, H-1B, L-1, and TN visas. Maine accommodates legal immigrants for legal work all the time, and eagerly.

A foreign citizen can also seek a “permanent resident” immigration visa, or Green Card, allowing the law-abiding foreign citizen to live and work in the US, possibly becoming a naturalized citizen and assimilating. This is how the process was intended to work, and until recently did. 

Other legal options include a non-immigration visa for a temporary stay, tourism, medical treatment, business, studies, and like purposes. In short, when you follow the law, we love you,.

Likewise, if you are a refugee or seeker of asylum under established US and international standards, that is, you have a “well-founded fear of persecution” individuated to you, a hearing will happen.

Third, a hard reality: Over the past two decades, during the Bush, Obama, and Biden years, illegal entries – between border checkpoints and by false assertions of an asylum claim – exploded.

Focusing on Maine, when borders are not closed by the federal government, false asylum claims are not sifted quickly, and illegals take up residence with impunity – you get a nightmare.

Even before Biden shipped thousands of illegal crossers, many with criminal records, to 100 towns in Maine without warning, things were stark. With minimal infrastructure, the state was overwhelmed.

While Maine’s Democrat governor reportedly wants 75,000 illegals in Maine, and Maine’s Democrat legislature pushes bills to legalize illegals voting in Maine elections, Mainers have reeled.

Maine taxpayers pay for housing, medical, free EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards, and watch as illegals take housing from veterans, all paid for by people who can barely able to survive.

Trump’s election – despite the detractors – has helped right this listing ship. While Maine needs a “no-nonsense” governor, Trump has already restarted deterrence, including in Maine. We have “miles to go before we sleep,” to paraphrase Robert Frost, but we are seeing change, even now.

Inside Maine – a representative of the nation – we have 8,215 immigrants of questionable legal status awaiting asylum hearings. These are the ones we know appeared in 100 Maine towns. Of this group, national data suggests roughly 80 percent are likely false claims, north of 6,540.

Hundreds of these foreign border breakers, not on a lawful visa, have also committed crimes. The public record is filled. Many are being held, on public record, in regional jails as ICE apprehends them.

As ICE acts, Democrats protest, seek to get them out, and in a few notable incidents, tried to prevent ICE personnel from making lawful arrests. Democrats, with little apparent grasp of law, seek to upend law.

Nevertheless, credit to Trump’s Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, and courageous State and local police, deterrence is kicking in. While Democrats in Cumberland County try to stop local officer training, arrests are still unfolding. The message – illegals not welcome – is spreading.

Enforcing well-established laws creates predictability, peace, order, public safety, and deterrence.  ICE arrests are up, illegal border crossings down. Customs and Border Patrol, working with ICE, arrested 113 illegal aliens from the 16 Maine counties in April, the highest number in 24 years.

Keep at it! While 113 is not many, with 5,000 to 8,000 potential illegals in Maine, but it represents a strong start. Yes, small potatoes – in a state that only grows big potatoes – but a start. If early data proves true, CBP and ICE are creating deterrence. Trump is fulfilling another promise.

Now, we just need a “no-nonsense” and “common-sense” Governor to work with Trump, not against him. The time is coming. For many Mainers, veterans to victims, it cannot come fast enough.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC. Robert Charles has also just released an uplifting new book, “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024).